Rutabaga Paddlesports is not just an amazing store. It’s a group of people who care about your paddling experience. They give recommendations and encouragement to help you with equipment to take you where you want to go. Because of Ethan and John I know my kayak and paddle are good choices for me and my paddling goals!

Staff were friendly, incredibly helpful and patient with me and helped to me to make an informed but budget friendly decision to help get us on the water and paddling that same day! It was a very positive experience! I would highly recommend Rutabaga. (Photos modified for privacy).

Your store had a nice selection of kayaks, but more than that was the great customer service I received. Being new to kayaking and an older customer, I was given guidance and suggestions to help me make my decision without being pressured. Thank you Win and also the very nice lady (Connie?) that assisted me with the purchase of my Wilderness Tarpon Kayak. Great experience… and I am enjoying it, very much!Sherry

Friendly staff. Great selection! I appreciated that they all wore masks, and wore them correctly.

Friendly, knowledgeable staff. Answered all my questions and never pushed me to buy anything specific. Really could tell they wanted me to get the kayak that would be best for me.

This is a nice store that has many accessories that are great to look at in person because you might not think of needing them until you see them.Wonderful selection of high-end boats to gaze at. Excellent display of roof racks and accessories that make it accessible for others to easily load boats. Always very helpful and attentive staff.I purchased a couple sets of Chaco sandals for gifts last winter, they were marked down. One pair ended up not fitting, even though it was clearance I was able to return it and found some nice thermos pints in exchange. The shoes and pints have gotten plenty of use this summer.We promise to be honorable; You promise to be reasonable. Its a great return policy

We LOVE Rutabaga! And our recent visit on Friday, May 7th, was an awesome purchasing experience. Dan Bowers was helpful, and knowledgeable, and personable ... I could go on. Appreciated his help in loading our new Old Town kayak up and doubled checking that our rooftop bars were secure in the process. Support local. Rutabaga is always our first stop when we need boats or gear!

Shopped online twice from this store now. Both Shannon and Richard were huge help and very polite when I called for some questions I had. They offered up a vast amount of knowledge to help me pick the right choice! Best customer service I have experienced bar none. Thank you guys!

If you are looking for a 5 star kayak and accessories shop, this is the one!! Very knowledgeable and helpful. I will definitely be back!!!

I needed a rod holder for my kayak, for a fishing trip this weekend with my nephew. I checked a number of sites online but everything offered required modifications to my kayak. With a time crunch, that would not have worked.I checked the Rutabaga website and found the holder that was clamp-on with no modifications to the kayak. I considered driving from Milwaukee to Madison. Instead I called the store. John, after consulting with your shipping dept, recommended UPS overnight. So I ordered two.They arrived this morning as promised, and they appear to be exactly what I need. I will be able to pack the camper tonight, and leave in the morning. Thanks!

The staff have always been caring and communicate well what I’m purchasing and how to use it. They’re great!

OMG I can’t say enough good things about this place! Shannon was absolutely fantastic helping us (two beginners) find the right pair of kayaks and accessories and taught us a lot along the way. We picked up our boats a few days later and they even gave us some great recommendations for places to stay and other fun stuff to check out for our upcoming camping trip. Definitely check out this shop for all your paddling/outdoorsy needs!

Went in with intentions of purchasing about $3k worth of kayaking, camping gear...I was told, had to have a mask on. So I left, I refuse to support communism!Fight back...Stop the spread of communism!!

I recently purchased a kayak through Rutabaga and the experience couldn’t have been better! I’m very happy with my purchase! They have friendly and knowable staff. They have a wide selection of kayaks and accessories. The shop is clean and organized. The owner Dan has a VAST amount of knowledge about any thing kayak related. He’s extremely friendly and is willing to help out anyone. Weather its your getting your first kayak or if your a seasoned vet. Honestly I have nothing but positive things to say about Rutabaga!

Happy to get the new kayak despite all the delays due to Covid. Dan was a big help in the decision-making process!

We bought two kayaks from them in June. They sales staff we very helpful and knowledgeable. They went over the installation of the kayak carriers and how to properly secure and tie down the kayaks.We had some issues with the kayaks and took some photos of the issues. They immediately identified the issue as a manufacturing issue because of inadequate on supplies. They then provided a solution at no charge.

Great place! Staff was so knowledgeable. Really patient and helpful as my husband and I chose PFDs. Also shared valuable information with us as we are looking at purchasing a canoe. Will definitely be back.

Wow! Great service by folks that know what they are doing and have a love for paddle sports. Went out of their way to make a personal connection. Their inventory and selection is great. Pricing is level with everyone else, but the service puts them over the top!

Wonderful selection of gear and canoes. Fantastic customer service.

So on May 20, 2021 I returned with my second Kayak a Delta AR12 the Green Photo and traded it in for a Swift Adirondack 12LT in Firestorm over Clear Carbon Fiber Kayak. It’s an amazing 24 LBS vs the Delta which was 42 LBS.They were extremely generous on the trade in value I received for my Delta Kayak.Again Rutabaga staff were amazing I worked with Connie who helped me with my custom order through Swift. She was awesome in helping me also buying a Spray Skirt and a Cockpit Cover.This is the third Kayak I’ve purchased from Rutabaga since September of 2020.I highly recommend Rutabaga and their knowledgeable staff for all your paddling needs.I will certainly be a life long customer. I’m actually thinking of buying a Swift Pak-Canoe also in Carbon Fiber. Need to clear that one with my wife first. 😱😱👍🏻👍🏻

Had just the product we were looking for. Great service and all kinds of help at pickup.

Super fast delivery. Dedication to the customer and the product. Appreciation for the planet. We need more companies like this. Thanks for this awesome wet shoe. Super comfortable and sleek design. Havent gotten them wet so I cant say about that but it feels like theyll do really well. Ill repost after my first splashing.

Everyone on staff is friendly and well informed. All of our questions were answered and we are ready and excited to get out on the water in our new boats! We’ll definitely be back and will highly recommend this local shop to anyone interested in paddle sports!

The shop is very well set up and has everything a paddler would need, they have staff that is very helpful and really explains everything very well, and they have some of the best product and a very good price! Glad that I made the trip there, and very happy with my purchase! Know that this kayak and gear will last and bring much enjoyment/fun to my kayaking experience!!

This is wonderful business to visit, just not when its crazy busy. We wondered around for 20 minutes and left. Not a soul greeted us or asked if we needed help. I had called a week in advance and the employee was wonderful with answering all my questions. Best to go here when its not a mad house as I know the staff are great at what they do.

I purchased my very first kayak August 14 from Rutabaga. From the time I walked in the door to the time I walked out (with probably the biggest smile ever) the entire experience was awesome. From mounting roof racks, fitting me in kayak and accessories, to showing me the easiest way to load, unload and safely transport they were fantastic. Thank you to all the staff for working so hard and making it such a pleasant experience.

Brendon was super helpful getting our family outfitted with accessories for our sea kayaks. Gave us plenty of time to compare and browse and came back just often enough to help when we needed advice. Specifically, the critical fit items like skirts and hatch covers fit perfectly. Thanks again, we’ll be back. Bill

I walked into Rutabaga to see if they had a fishing kayak in stock - I wandered to the part of the store where I knew them to be and found one on the rack exactly like I was looking for. Winfield came over and asked if I had any questions so we got the kayak off of the display rack and he explained the kayak and I sat in the seat - well...it was so nice that I bought it. I then mentioned that I needed a paddle and life jacket. Winfield took the time to review the life jackets and picked one out that would meet my needs, he adjusted all the straps and showed me the proper way to fit the life jacket - AWESOME DEAL!!!! So I now have a kayak, paddle and life jacket and my truck and trailer is at home so we made arrangements for me to pick up the kayak the next day. Winfield showed me the rooftop mount needed for my Honda CR-V and I said I would keep that in mind for future use. Future use ended up being 2 hours later - I came back and bought the rooftop mount and Winfield came outside and helped me get it installed and then helped getting the kayak strapped on the mount. NICE WORK WINFIELD - great guy, great company!!!Highly recommended for your outdoor sports needs.Oh yeah - it was 86 degrees and really humid outside too!!!Once we were done with my project I looked around the parking lot and there were 2 other customers getting rooftop mounts installed and a Thule luggage box mounted. Pretty neat to see the store employees really helping their customers out!!!!!

Really enjoyed working with the staff to purchase our kayaks and supporting equipment. They were very supportive, not at all pushy, and were genuinely excited to help match us with the equipment we needed based on what we wanted to do. Did a great job giving options and advice without being definitive. Matthew helped us with the test paddle and was great. I wish we remembered the other two that helped out as they were also greatly helpful.

I try to shop locally so checking out Rutabaga was a natural for me. Even in these difficult times of shortages and long deliveries the Rutabaga shop had an amazing selection of paddlesports equipment. I was looking for a youth kayak for my granddaughter. Im not much of a paddler so I needed advice. This was the REAL benefit of shopping locally with people who know their business. Every question was answered without a single raised eyebrow. In fact, they also offered suggestions and tips that I would never have considered. What a delight to be treated so well by people who obviously love what they are doing.

While I had been canoeing since childhood, we wanted to begin something new (now in our 60s and approaching retirement) and always had heard of Rutabaga Paddle Sports. So we stopped in and asked about kayaks. The team on the floor was extremely helpful, walked us through the various options, and gave us confidence we were making the right choices, from type of kayaks to the paddles and life jackets. Everyone was simply awesome!

Great experience! I ordered some paddles online from this company. Ordering was easy. They had the product I wanted in stock. It shipped fast. I received a nice call from the company confirming the color of a particular paddle. All great stuff.

I bought a set of kayak racks from them, knew what I wanted and did the transaction over the phone. When I stopped and picked them I browsed the store the employees were very friendly and knowledgeable, I overheard several employees explaining things to customers. They have a large inventory of kayaks and canoes plus a ton of accessories I’d absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a kayak canoe or accessories.

Thank you for your expertise and setting us up for all of our outdoor needs!

Best sales experience I’ve had in years! I was on the market for a kayak and after visiting all of the local sporting goods stores, I had yet to have a sales person even approach me. At Rutabaga… not only did I have someone help me quickly, but they really took the time to set me up with everything I needed. I have already recommended them to friends and I will certainly go back in the future!

Bought a Hala SUP here last year and it’s been an amazing piece of fun that has one of the best warranties in the industry. They let you try the thing on their backwater pond area, which is really helpful before the purchase.

You had the item in stock. Phone support was awesome. Other websites are selling stuff that is out of stock or back order and not putting that information up front on the website. Staff member was very helpful... cant wait until my item gets here....

Picked up our new Nova Craft Cronje. Researched the boat on the web, had several conversations with Rutabaga staff via phone and email. I originally had a different color in mind, but when they sent me photos, I fell in love with the boat. We live 3.5 hours away, so picking up the boat on a snowy weekend was a bit nerve racking. The staff was super helpful and knew their stuff. They forgot to warn me, however, how difficult it was going to be to pick up a boat in February and have to wait for warmer weather to go paddling!

Besides a vast selection of paddling products, the staff at Rutabaga is wonderful. So helpful and knowledgeable too! A customer is sure to find what they need no matter what their level of experience is. Ethan was truly a pleasure to work with for my latest boat purchase. It had been nearly twenty years since my last kayak purchase and there had been a lot of new innovations I wasn’t familiar with. All my questions were treated with same level of respect and answered accordingly. It was a truly refreshing change of pace to converse with someone in sales who knew their products well and shared my passion for it. If your new to paddling or an experienced water sports addict, this is the go to store for it!Thanks for all the help,John ShinnersThreefish Woodworks

Cant give this place enough praise. I came in with a super difficult part matching problem for a roof rack, and they spent the time + energy getting me the right part! Also gave me honest advice on things I did and didnt need when asked, and incredibly friendly staff.You cant go wrong, great place, great people!

I bought a canoe during the 2021 Conoeacopia event. Molly was amazing! She took the time to understand my plans and provided multiple recommendations based on that information. She explained each option, why she suggested it, and where its strengths and where it may not be as strong. I never felt rushed through the process. In the end I am confident in my purchase and look forward to years of paddling enjoyment and memories.

Quality products, good selection, and helpful guidance from employees. They carry really high-quality products that I cant find anywhere else within a days drive.I purchased a canoe here after an on-the-water demo of several different options. The staff was patient and helpful during the demo even when I asked to try several additional boats beyond we had initially planned on. I really appreciated the effort to make sure I went home with a canoe I wanted.I have also purchased many accessories throughout the years both at the store and on their website. They are worth the 2.5-hour drive for the big purchases like a boat. The website is great for the small stuff.

What a great experience! Steve was so helpful and knowledgeable about our new kayak purchases. We came away with great information and the basic necessities we needed. Will definetly come back and purchase again. Thanks

Knowledgable staff and quality selection of Kayaks and canoes. They know and stand behind their products.

We purchased 2 kayaks and all the needed accessories to begin kayaking. The boat inventory is limited this year but we were happy with our purchase and the choices of accessories is great. Our salesman was very knowledgeable and helpful. He install our car rack and help load and secure the boats. This is a great store for paddlers!

We were on our way out west on a road trip with our kayaks when our roof rack broke on the highway, and we were fortunate enough to stumble across the nice folks at rutabaga. They helped us not only choose a more appropriate rack system for the kayaks we were hauling, but installed it on the spot and showed me how to better secure our kayaks for the long trip. They saved the day, and our vacation with their help. I would strongly recommend using this knowledgeable and helpful shop for your paddle sport needs.

Fast delivery on purchased product! Very friendly staff that will go the extra mile. Will do business here again!

Awesome place for everything you need to get out on the water! We stop here every time we are on our way to Kenosha from Minneapolis.

We have bought 4 kayaks from Rutabaga and recommend them to anyone at any experience level. They are great at educating beginners, and help us to get what we are looking for as best possible while kayaks are in such high demand. It is our go-to place!

Rutabaga Paddlesports is like the General Store of old, but for canoeists, kayakers, and paddle boarders. A person feels right at home, is in no hurry to leave, enjoying both the fantasies about the equipment, but also a friendly staff, who Ive been told by an anonymous source, are not likely to last there if they attempt to sell something to a customer. Thats not a big problem for ownership as the inventory has been chosen with you in mind. The mission statement is something like, to provide experience, which is really what each of us is looking for in a canoe/paddlesports endeavor.

Great selection of everything outdoors. Friendly service, excellent prices.Buy Local!

Really great customer service. I purchased a kayak rack and it was really helpful to speak with the guy working behind the counter about which rack would work best for my situation. He also put on a couple attachment straps under the hood of my car.

Rutabaga has a wide selection of boats available across the entire price spectrum. Expertise to help people chose the right boat for their needs and experience. And all the gear necessary to outfit ones self to transport the boat and paddle it. All tied up in an incredibly friendly package. Thank you for the wonderful service you provide!

They have all the necessities for our Backcountry visit to the BWCA! Knowledgeable and friendly service!

Dan was incredible. He walked us through all of our options and answered every question with complete expertise. Such a joy to work with him and Ill definitely be going back for all of my paddlesports needs.

Very helpful and friendly. Better service than a few years ago. Looking forward to their new place.

They have a great selection, and the staff is genuinely interested in helping

Very good selection...kayaks were priced good had lots in stock!!

Love the service, experience and willingness to help folks enjoy the outdoors.

Very knowledgeable and helpful staff. The 2-3 staff that helped us in person, and on the phone, could not have been more polite, knowledgeable and patient with our many questions and buying decisions.

I would give Canoecopia 11 out of 10 stars if I could.I have exhibited at a lot of trade shows in a lot of convention centers in other industries. Our first showing at Canoecopia 2019 has turned out to be the best trade show I have ever done. This show is by far the most productive and most enjoyable show I have been involved with. The numbers of paddle sport enthusiasts there with the intention of buying new gear was as good as you could expect. The administration of the show was amazing. All questions were quickly answered with just plain old friendly, reasonable, and timely responses. From the moment we started talking to Rutabaga it almost felt too easy. Nobody made me feel like we called too much or that we were not going to get solid answers. The typical 1st time trade show surprises were nearly nonexistent. Setting up our booth went so smoothly I felt like I was getting away with something. All the rules were reasonable and are focused on making things go smooth. From the time we arrived at the loading dock to the time we drove away, everybody was so easy to deal with. As a paddle sports enthusiast myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the limited time I could get away from our booth. The exhibitors and balance of exhibitors was perfect for somebody wanting to dive in. Last but not least, everybody in Madison and surrounding area was very pleasant and enjoyable to deal with. Falcon Sails is returning for sure.Patrick ForresterPresident Falcon Sails llc

Ordered a drysuit from Rutabaga, and everything came as expected. Thanks y’all!

Comprehensive paddling inventory with expert, thoughtful advice. I highly recommend Rutabaga. Easily the best paddling shop in the Midwest, and one of the three or four best in the US.

I have placed orders with this place a few times and every time they are fast and have exactly what I need. Some of this gear is hard to find in the US and its extremely convenient being able to order something for a trip at the last minute and have it show up in time!

Great customer service and passionate employees that clearly have a wealth of knowledge. They also have a great selection of top-of-the-line kayaks as well as used boats. If you dont find the boat you want in their store, they will likely have something similar in one of their warehouses.

We rented snowshoes for our whole family. Three online rental process was easy. For pick up, they brought the snowshoes out to our car. And they were very accommodating with returns. We had a great time and will definitely rent from Rutabaga again!

Great to rent from. Super friendly staff and bring the gear right to your car plus the same on return. Would definitely recommend. If I lived here I would check them out for my permanent sporting goods as well.

The staff was great at helping me find a rack system that would work for me. Happy with them, their product & their service. I definitely recommend Rutabaga Paddlesports.

We had a blast snowshoeing! This was our first time and the equipment was high quality and simple to figure out. Great to have a store in the area where we can rent gear before we buy. Thank you!

I live in a state without any great paddle shops. Rutabaga has become my go to for their great product selection and customer service. doesnt matter if its shopping online or making the 7 hour drive, Rutabaga is my go to store for all paddling supplies

Great shopping experience. The team stayed late to get us set up with new boats and the equipment we needed, then went the extra mile to get the boats secured to the car rack. Thanks Rutabaga!

They made choosing a canoe in a pandemic easy and were very helpful choosing paddles for kids when it arrived.

From boats to paddling lessons and PFDs to paddling books, Rutabaga has it all! Great customer service in a small, local business.

I rented snowshoes. Was a really easy process. Ordered online and they were ready for pickup when I needed them. The clerk gave me some instructions and I was on my way. Quick drop off process, everyone was very helpful and friendly.

High end everything! If you want the top of line outdoor stuff, get it here.

Excellent local resource for all things paddle sports! I bought a canoe from them 18 months ago and the service and value were top notch. The canoe has carried my dad and my daughters into the BWCA on several trips of a lifetime. The owner, Darren, personally showed us several models and we were able to paddle them around right there on the spot. The staff is extremely knowledgeable because they live the outdoor life themselves. Since purchasing the canoe we have also bought other equipment here and every interaction is pure authentic outdoor sports. Thanks, Darren, for being the paddling evangelist!

Jon spend an amazing amount of time with us in deciding on a pair of kayaks, paddles, and pfds. Especially challenging in this time of reduced stock and with Jons guidance we are optimistic that we will be on the water in time for summer . Thx Jon!

Top notch expertise and servicein helping us choose a canoe!

Good people selling good products with good information. Canoecopia is like a Springtime gift to paddlers. Lots of equipment to touch, feel, try...at great, unmatched discounts. Love these guys!

I bought my first kayak today, and the people at Rutabaga were so incredibly helpful with finding me a boat I love. Im by no means a kayak expert - just a beginner looking to expand my skills and get out on the water more. Connie talked with me about where Im at now and where I want to go with paddling in the next few years, and then helped me find a kayak and accessories that will let me do those things. It was especially great getting to test paddle it before I bought it. Everyone I talked to was so friendly and knowledgeable - it was a really wonderful experience.

I have made many purchases from Rutabaga and have always been pleased with purchase advice, and product quality.

Great store. just purchased new kayak. staff was helpful and friendly

The best people selling the best stuff. Everyone is knowledgeable and kind and excited to help get people outside.

Good time there! Missed it during the pandemic!

Aaron was incredibly helpful during my visit, answering my questions and giving advice without being pushy towards one specific product or another. After my purchase, Aaron and David both helped me finish installing my kayak roof rack and loading my boat, showing me good knots to use and ensuring I got on the highway with a securely affixed boat. It was a great experience in the store, and totally worth the drive from Brookfield!

Great place to work, great place to buy boats and gear!! Thank you so much Rutabaga!!

The perfect place to shop for any canoeist, kayaker, or just about anything outdoors. Quality products at reasonable pricing with helpful staff. I have been coming here since a kid and hope to see them continue to do business. So support your local shop!!

We rented snowshoes and had really good experience. Fast and easy pickup and drop off.

Knowledgeable staff, the best water gear around. Awesome place!

The service was top notch and the reason why I drove 2 hours to reach Rutabaga. Last week I bought 2 sea kayaks, a roof rack, paddles, and a few other accessories. I could have found them all online, but theres a value to working with people that love paddling and are enthusiastic about sharing their opinions on gear. I had 3 people help me on more first visit, and 4 more help a week later when I returned to have the roof rack installed.

I was very pleased with the service I received when I picked up my new Kayak from Rutabagas. The sales person helped me pick out a paddle and PFD. Also first time Canoecopia and even through it was virtual I like the content and hope to attend a live one next year.

Very helpful staff!

Rutabaga Paddlesports carries a wide range of boats and accessories, and the staff are very friendly and helpful. They know their stuff!

Nice selection of canoes and paddling gear. Friendly people. Ill be back.

Great selection and wide variety from everything paddling to backcountry camping. Very knowledgeable and helpful staff. This place is like a combination of REI and a boundary waters outfitting store. Definitely worth the trip.

Great experience!Drew was super helpful as we were first time snowshoers!

Great sales experience and friendly, knowledgeable staff. I will be back!!!

Employees are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. It’s great to be able to test paddle the boats!As a small business owner myself, I very much appreciate other small businesses that have high integrity and great customer service.—Tranquil Journey LLC

What do I like? ...the PEOPLE who provide the products and services.After enjoying my Rutabaga paddling equipment for several years and hundreds of outings, I visited the store for some safety-related accessories. Dan, Gus & Sam each immediately helped me with selection and installation during my initial visit despite already being super busy setting up for a big sale and swap event. I left the store with all of my concerns expertly addressed, feeling not like a customer, but as a valued part of a community.

Snowshoe rental - Easy peasy, great rate . Good instruction for a first time user. Thank you !